Letters to Atticus Passage 4

M. Aelium cura liberabis; me paucos pedes in extremo fundo et eos quidem subterraneos servitutis putasse aliquid habituros. id me iam iam nolle neque mihi aquam esse tanti. sed ut mihi dicebas, quam lenissime, potius ut cura liberetur quam ut me suscensere aliquid suspicetur. item de illo Tulliano capite libere cum Cascellio loquere. parva res est, sed tu bene attendisti. nimis callide agebatur. ego autem si mihi imposuisset aliquid, quod paene fecit nisi tua malitia adfuisset, animo iniquo tulissem. itaque , ut ut erit, rem impediri malo. octavam partem †tuli luminarum medium ad strane memineris cui Caerellia† videris mancipio dare ad eam summam quae sub praecone fuit maxima. id opinor esse C_C_C_L_X_X_X_ .

Please release Marcus Aelius from anxiety. Tell him that I had thought a few feet at the edge of my property, and those underground, might provide something for the easement, but that I now no longer want them and do not value the water so highly. Still, as you told me, handle it as gently as possible, so that he is freed from anxiety rather than led to suspect that I am in any way angry with him. Likewise, speak freely with Cascellius about that Tullian item. It is a small matter, but you noticed it well. The proceeding was too cunning. If he had imposed upon me, as he nearly did but for your shrewdness, I should have taken it badly. So, whatever happens, I prefer the business to be stopped. As for the eighth share, †... remember... Caerellia†, you will apparently convey it by formal sale for the highest sum reached under the auctioneer. I think that is 380,000 sesterces.

Tu délivreras Marcus Aelius de son inquiétude. Je pensais que quelques pieds à l’extrémité de ma propriété, et encore souterrains, auraient quelque valeur pour la servitude. Je n’en veux désormais plus du tout et cette eau n’a pas tant de prix pour moi. Mais, comme tu me le disais, agis avec la plus grande douceur, afin de le délivrer de son inquiétude plutôt que de lui laisser soupçonner quelque irritation de ma part. Parle également sans détour avec Cascellius au sujet de cette parcelle tullienne. C’est une petite affaire, mais tu l’as bien remarquée. On agissait avec trop de ruse. S’il m’avait trompé, ce qu’il a failli faire sans ta finesse, je l’aurais fort mal pris. Ainsi, quoi qu’il arrive, je préfère empêcher l’affaire. Pour le huitième †tuli luminarum medium ad strane memineris cui Caerellia†, veille à paraître le vendre au prix maximal atteint sous le crieur public. Je crois que c’est 380 000 sesterces.